Dahlia plant named &#39;KLEDH18127&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Dahlia  plant designated ‘KLEDH18127’ particularly distinguished by light pink flowers, are disclosed.

Genus and species: Dahlia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDH18127’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT ‘KLEDH18127’

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dahlia, botanically known as Dahlia sp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDH18127’. ‘KLEDH18127’ originated from a controlled cross conducted in autumn 2014 in Stuttgart, Germany, between the proprietary female Dahlia ‘DH-2013-0243’ (not patented) and the proprietary male Dahlia ‘DH-2013-0085’ (not patented).

In 2015, a seedling was selected and named ‘KLEDH18127’. ‘KLEDH18127’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative stem cuttings in 2016 in Stuttgart, Germany, and Latina, Italy. ‘KLEDH18127’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF ‘KLEDH18127’

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘KLEDH18127’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Light pink flowers; and

2. A compact, semi-upright habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dahlia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of the plant approximately 11 to 12 weeks old and grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The photograph shows the whole plant, unless otherwise noted, including the flowers and foliage and buds and were taken in May 2018 in Stuttgart, Germany. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF ‘KLEDH18127’

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDH18127’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on plants potted the week of June 11, 2018 and grown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.         -   Botanical.—Dahlia sp.         -   Designation.—‘KLEDH18127’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘DH-2013-0243’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘DH-2013-0085’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright, free basal             branching, and inflorescences held above the foliar plane.         -   Plant height.—39.0 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—43.0 cm.         -   Propagation type.—Vegetative stem cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—8 to 9 weeks.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching and moderately dense.         -   Root description.—Fine and white. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—29.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.         -   Internode length.—3.0 cm.         -   Aspect.—Outwardly spreading.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 148A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, pinnately compound.         -   Length.—8.0 cm.         -   Width.—4.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Pinnate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Lobed.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—RHS 178B.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower             surface: RHS 148C.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface:             RHS 148B. -   Petioles:     -   -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 144C N77C. Lower surface: RHS 144C             N77C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Daisy-eyed double inflorescences             held above the foliage.         -   Fragrance.—Faint.         -   Time to flower.—In the winter about 3 months after planting;             in the summer, about 2 months after planting.         -   Post-production longevity.—Plants flower continuously from             spring through autumn.         -   Diameter.—6.0 cm.         -   Depth.—3.0 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—1.7 cm.         -   Receptacle height.—0.5 cm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—1.5 cm.         -   Receptacle color.—RHS 143A. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Height.—0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Circular.         -   Color.—RHS 137A. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—58 in about 3 to 4 whorls.         -   Length.—3.0 cm.         -   Width.—2.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Semi-upright.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color, immature and mature, both surfaces.—RHS 65B. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 50.         -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Texture (both inner and outer surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color.—Immature (both inner and outer surfaces): RHS 46A.             Mature (both inner and outer surfaces): RHS 53A. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—10.         -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Shiny.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 143A. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length, terminal peduncle.—Up to 15.0 cm.         -   Length, axillary peduncle.—5.0 cm to 15.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Aspect.—Semi-upright.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS N199A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Present on ray florets. Quantity per floret: 2.             Filament length: 0.8 cm. Filament color: RHS 1B. Anther             shape: Long lanceolate. Anther length: 0.3 cm. Anther color:             RHS 13A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: RHS 9A.         -   Gynoecium.—Present on both ray florets and disc florets.             Quantity per floret: 1. Pistil length: 1.1 cm. Style length:             0.5 cm. Style color: RHS 14A. Stigma shape: Lanceolate             pinnate. Stigma color: RHS 1B. Ovary color: RHS 1C. -   Fruit and seed set: No fruit or seed set observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Moderate Mildew resistance is     observed.

COMPARISON OF ‘KLEDH18127’ WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDH18127’ is distinguished from the mutation parent as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘1KLEDH18127’ ‘DH-2013-0243’ ‘DH-2013-0085’ Ray floret color Light Pink Pink Lavender

‘KLEDH18127’ can be compared to the commercial Dahlia variety ‘Mauritius’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,352). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDH18127’ ‘Mauritius’ Mildew resistance Moderate Susceptible Foliage Dark green Green 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dahlia plant designated ‘KLEDH18127’, as illustrated and described herein. 